Girls hoops Raiders move to 17-0

With its usual blend of size, strength and all-out defense, the Canastota girls basketball team moved closer to a perfect regular season.

In last Tuesday night’s trip to Westmoreland, the Raiders relied on all those proven strengths to smother the Bulldogs in a 45-20 decision to make it 16 wins in a row.

All Westmoreland could manage in the first quarter was a single field goal. Meanwhile, Canastota’s attack steadily converted baskets as it outscored the Bulldogs in each quarter.

Liz McGinley, with 16 points, nearly matched Westmoreland by herself, but there was nice balance behind her. Holly Marsh finished with nine points, including her team’s lone 3-pointers, while Alicia Hibbard had eight points and Shea Foster gained six points.

Just 24 hours later, in the makeup of a snowed-out Dec. 11 game against Mount Markham, the Raiders kept it up, crushing the Mustangs 63-19.

The fun included a 23-point first quarter, as effective an offensive outburst as Canastota has enjoyed all season. Not content with that, the Raiders held Mount Markham to just five points in the next two periods to make it 49-11 before easing up.

Both McGinley and Hibbard finished with 16 points, leading an attack where Foster and Alexis Havens each had eight points and Brianna Quaglia contributed seven points.

The Raiders are back home Friday night to face Waterville and go after its 18th straight win.